Scots will “resoundingly” back the “golden opportunity” of independence if a second referendum takes place, First Minister John Swinney has said.
The SNP leader used a statement on the first day of business at Holyrood after the election to set out his plans for the next five-year term – with independence at the heart of them.
Leaving the UK will give Scotland “greater prosperity”, as a result of the country having control over its energy and being able to rejoin the European Union, the First Minister said.
Speaking at the start of a debate where the Scottish Government is calling on Westminster to deliver a Section 30 order to allow a second referendum to be held, Ms Swinney spoke about how independence would give the country a “renewed partnership” with the EU along with “control over our own energy wealth”.
I'm focused on delivering for people in Scotland. This week, we will bring forward plans to cut the cost of living, expand childcare and help first-time buyers.
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) May 25, 2026
And tomorrow, Parliament can back Scotland's right to hold a referendum on the fresh start of independence. 🏴
The First Minister declared: “Together, these offer Scotland a golden opportunity, and it is one that I believe people will vote for resoundingly when our nation has, once again, the ability to decide our own future in an independence referendum.”
While he accepted that “Westminster currently says no” to demands for another referendum, the SNP leader said Tuesday’s debate at Holyrood was “the start of a process” that he believes will lead to the UK ministers backing another referendum, with Scots then voting “yes to independence” when that vote is held.
He hailed independence as being the “fresh start Scotland so badly needs” – as he told MSPs it was “the future this Parliament can endorse today”.
His comments came as he spoke widely about Scottish Government plans to boost the economy, improve the NHS, and eradicate child poverty – an issue which he branded “morally wrong”.
Stressing that “Scotland knows what it means to lead the world”, the First Minister insisted the country was “at the beginning of a new age of economic transformation”.
However, he made clear that improvements to prosperity must be “felt directly by the people”, telling MSPs that child poverty “has been a scourge in Scotland for too long”.
While he said progress has been made, Mr Swinney insisted: “We must now redouble our efforts so that child poverty can be eradicated from our land.”
On the issue of energy, he said Westminster control over this had been an “unmitigated disaster”.
The First Minister said: “We produce more oil, more gas, more electricity than we need, and yet the prices we pay – as households, as businesses – are among the highest in Europe. It simply does not add up.
“We have the energy, and in abundance, but we do not have the power.”
The Scottish Greens gave their support to the First Minister as they said independence would be a “means to a greater end”.
Party co-leader Ross Greer said: “The Scottish Greens have always believed that independence is the best choice for Scotland, not as an end, but as a means to a greater end.”
However, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the debate was a “missed opportunity” to discuss other issues in Scotland as the first debate of the new Scottish Parliament.
He said: “If you look at the balance of the motion we’re being asked to vote on today, it’s overwhelmingly about one issue and one issue alone, and that is the SNP First Minister’s only ambition and all the obsession, and that is the issue of independence, and I think that is a missed opportunity in this first debate of this new Parliament.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticised Mr Swinney for choosing to debate independence a day after former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband Peter Murrell was jailed for embezzling SNP funds.
Mr Findlay declared: “The timing of today’s debate is comical.
“Today of all days John Swinney is banging the independence drum when the news agenda is dominated by his party stealing money from their own members and supporters, money the SNP promised to ring-fence for independence.”
The Tory added: “Today of all days, John Swinney reckons the SNP can be trusted to take full control of an independent Scotland and our nation’s finances.”
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the Government’s motion was part of the reason constituents do not have “attention or trust” in the Scottish Parliament.
He said: “This is a microcosm of the inadequacies of this SNP Government, taking time for parliamentary debates like this does nothing to save our constituents.
“No wonder they do not have the attention or the trust in this parliament that they used to.”
Reform Scotland did not submit an amendment but leader Malcolm Offord expressed concern on the motion.
He said: “Why does the SNP indulge itself by continually debating matters reserved to Westminster?
“It’s something called a deflection strategy because they don’t want to focus on the track record of what they’ve done in their day job.”
